Sheffield Wednesday: Six great Owls goalkeepers - how does Keiren Westwood compare?

Chris Holt

Keiren Westwood has been in the news this week with speculation continuing that Sheffield Wednesday should be braced for bids from Premier League clubs hoping to lure the Owls number one to the bright lights of the top flight.

The Republic of Ireland international has been in stunning form this season, consistently one of Wednesday’s best performers since making the move from Sunderland in the summer.

Kevin Pressman

But how does Westwood compare with these other great Hillsborough custodians? Let us know your favourite Wednesday goalkeeper by commenting at the bottom of the page...

The no-nonsense stopper made over 500 appearances between the sticks for Wednesday between 1987 and 2004 and is rightly regarded as one of the best to have pulled on the jersey. In his prime Pressman was one of the best goalkeepers in the country and should have gained more international recognition than the handful of England under 21 and ‘B’ caps that he earned. Famously somewhat ‘chunky’, that never hampered his game and he was particularly adept at saving penalties.

Martin Hodge

Martin Hodge

Signed by Howard Wilkinson in 1983 having been unable to snatch Neville Southall’s place at Everton, Hodge would go on to become a record breaker at Hillsborough after making 214 consecutive appearances between the sticks - the most by any player. Almost made it to the Mexico World Cup with England in 1986 but was edged out by Gary Bailey.

Ron Springett

Here’s a man who did make it to a World Cup (two in fact) and indeed was part of the winning team. Yes, OK, he didn’t play, as Gordon Banks was number one but Springett was in the England squad that won the tournament in 1966. He was first choice in 1962 though as England lost 3-1 to Brazil in the quarter finals. Made nearly 400 appearances for Wednesday in almost a decade in the 50s and 60s and played in the 1966 FA Cup final in which the Owls lost 3-2 to Everton.

Peter Springett

Peter Springett

Uniquely, Peter signed for Wednesday in a swap deal, with his brother Ron going the opposite direction and back to QPR. Played during a difficult period for Wednesday who would plunge into the Third Division but is still highly thought of at Hillsborough. Hung around Sheffield after his retirement and became a police officer.

Slightly controversial one this. On the one hand, he was in that era one of the best British goalkeepers around and indeed was England’s first choice while still at Wednesday where he had signed from Rangers. However, there are many Owls fans who just don’t remember Woods that fondly. It’s probably the meek attempt at saving Andy Linighan’s header in the 1993 FA Cup final replay. Still, there’s no doubting his ability.

Chris Woods

Bob Bolder

Signed from non-league Dover in the late 70s, Bolder would go on to pull on the shirt over 200 times and turned in performances so impressive that he signed for that all-conquering Liverpool team of the early 80s. Unfortunately for Bolder the form of Bruce Grobbelaar meant that he would never play a first team game for the Reds and he would go on to recapture his Wednesday form with Charlton.